A jury of six men and 10 women has been selected to hear the case against Duane “Keffe D” Davis, an ex-gang leader accused of orchestrating the murder of Tupac Shakur nearly 30 years ago. Opening statements at the murder trial in Las Vegas are scheduled to begin Monday.
Shakur, then 25, was shot in a drive-by incident on Sept. 7, 1996, near the Las Vegas Strip. He died six days later. At the height of his career, Shakur was involved in a music scene shaped by rival gangs. The rapper remains one of the most influential artists in hip-hop history, with more than 75 million records sold worldwide, including seven albums released posthumously. His hits include “California Love” and “Dear Mama.”
Davis, now 63, was charged with murder three years ago and identified by authorities as the “shot caller” who orchestrated the killing. He has pleaded not guilty and faces a potential sentence of life in prison if convicted. Davis is the only living person known to have been in the Cadillac from which prosecutors allege the fatal shots were fired. He was in the passenger seat of a BMW driven by Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight when the shooting occurred. Knight survived the incident.
Prosecutors do not allege that Davis fired the shots himself but contend he made the decisions that led to Shakur’s death and provided the firearm. Under Nevada law, an individual can be convicted of murder for aiding another person in committing the crime.
The case against Davis gained momentum after he published the book “Compton Street Legend” in 2019, detailing his time in the Crips and the shooting. He also made statements during police interviews and media appearances. Davis' attorneys argued unsuccessfully to exclude details from the book and a 2008 police interview, claiming the book was fictionalized and that the interview was intended to be confidential.
Prosecutors expect to call between 35 and 45 witnesses, including individuals who saw Shakur shortly before the shooting and associates of both Shakur and Davis. Marion “Suge” Knight, who is currently serving a 28-year sentence for a 2015 incident, is the only other surviving occupant of the vehicle Shakur was in during the shooting. Knight has stated he does not wish to be involved in the trial. Sean “Diddy” Combs, whom Davis claimed wanted Shakur and Knight dead, will not be among the witnesses, according to attorneys.